West Bengal Polling Booth Process Explained: What Happens Inside Voting Stations

Last Updated:April 17, 2026, 21:46 IST

West Bengal polling booth process explained step-by-step. Know what happens inside voting stations, voter verification, EVM voting, and rules followed during elections.

Voting at polling stations in West Bengal follows a standard procedure laid down by the Election Commission of India to ensure transparency, secrecy and fairness in the electoral process.

Entry And Voter Verification

When voters arrive at a polling booth, they are first checked by polling officials stationed at the entrance. Voters must present their Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) or another approved identification document. Their name is verified on the electoral roll and only eligible voters are allowed to proceed inside the booth area. Security personnel are deployed outside and inside polling stations to maintain order and ensure smooth movement of voters. The Election Commission also ensures basic facilities such as seating, drinking water, ramps for differently-abled voters and proper signage at polling locations.

Inside Polling Booth

Once verified, voters enter the voting compartment one at a time to ensure secrecy. Inside, they are directed toward the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), which consists of a Control Unit operated by the polling officer and a Ballot Unit used by the voter. Before voting begins, the presiding officer activates the machine for each voter after identity confirmation. The voter then presses the button against the chosen candidate’s name and symbol on the EVM.

Casting Vote

After selecting a candidate, the vote is recorded electronically in the EVM’s memory. In polling stations equipped with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems, a printed slip briefly shows the selected candidate’s details for verification before it falls into a sealed box. This ensures that the vote is recorded correctly while maintaining secrecy.

Exit And Safeguards

Once the vote is cast, the voter exits the polling compartment immediately. The EVM is then reset for the next voter by polling officials. Each vote is recorded only once and the system automatically disables repeat voting attempts. At the end of polling, the machines are sealed in the presence of candidates or their representatives and stored securely under strict surveillance until counting day.

Transparency And Monitoring

To increase transparency, polling stations are monitored through webcasting and CCTV in many areas, allowing election authorities to oversee the process in real time. Strong security arrangements, sealed EVM storage and strict procedural checks are designed to ensure that voting remains free, fair and confidential.

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